An allegedly illegal structure and compound wall of a five-star La Calypso resort in Baga was demolished by the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) on Wednesday afternoon.

“At a recent meeting of the NGPDA, a decision was taken to remove the illegal shed and compound wall as it’s a blatant illegality and an encroachment on the footpath and road widening area,” NGPDA chairman Michael Lobo, who led the demolition team, said.

The illegal shed was being used as a kitchen for the 24-hour coffee shop and also housed a pub.

Lobo said that many non-Goans who have brought property and built resorts in Calangute have committed a lot of illegalities like blocking traditional access ways to locals, CRZ and other violations with the backing of the local panchayat.

“Panchayat members have been taking money and allowing this. Locals had complained to me about this, following which we had sent a notice and decided to demolish the illegal structure as it comes under the planning area,” Lobo said.

The owner of the resort Kaushal Khanna attempted to stop the demolition, but was prevented from doing so. The demolition began at 11.30am and was completed by 12.30pm.

The kitchen staff members of the resort frantically started removing gas cylinders, tables, furniture, pots, pans and other kitchen material as the demolition squad got to work.

Lobo, who is also the Calangute MLA, said that they would also be demolishing an illegal compound wall built behind the resort within the next couple of days.

A large number of policemen from the Calangute police station were present at the spot along with joint mamlatdar Madhu Narvekar.

After the demolition Khanna told reporters, “The MLA, without showing me the demolition order and notice, has come and demolished my property.”

“When I tried to stop him, he manhandled me. We approached the Calangute police station last night and also phoned them this morning to lodge a complaint as we had an indication that the MLA have the structure demolished, but they did not register a complaint and refused to listen to us,” the resort owner said.

He added that the police who came to the spot were “simply watching and doing nothing”.

Khanna claimed that the notice served to him had the wrong survey number with the name of the resort and said that the property matter is pending before the district and sessions court in Mapusa

If a matter is sub judice, how can an MLA lead a squad to demolish a property?